Three in custody in probe of American’s murder

Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade said yesterday he is satisfied that police have in custody the man who shot American sailor Kyle Bruner to death on Sunday morning.

“We have arrested to date three persons and we are satisfied that we have the shooter in custody,” Greenslade told The Nassau Guardian.

“We are satisfied that in addition to clearing up this murder, that we are clearing up a number of armed robbery cases, and so [the suspects] will be in court very soon and the public will know in a firm way just who these people are.

“They are all Bahamian males, relatively young men. It’s very unfortunate that they have involved themselves in such a way.”

Bruner, 34, of Chicago, Illinois, was shot during an armed robbery near the intersection of Mackey Street and East Bay Street, police said.

According to preliminary reports, two men followed Bruner, another man and two women after they left Hammer Heads Bar and Grill on East Bay Street around 4:30 a.m.

Police said the men, one of whom was armed, confronted Bruner and his friends on Mackey Street and demanded their belongings.

During the hold-up, one of the women reportedly got into a scuffle with one of the assailants.

Police said Bruner attempted to confront the gunman and was shot in the neck.

Greenslade said the crime was one of opportunity.

“It’s unfortunate that we could not prevent it from happening but this is what happens when...young people are prepared to throw everything out of the window in terms of respect for themselves and for others and they certainly have no respect for the rule of law,” he said.

In the wake of the murder, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe called for increased police patrols in areas where visitors frequent.

Greenslade acknowledged the need for additional patrols, however he said the police’s resources are stretched.

“There is a need to do more certainly by law enforcement, but you must recognize that we are called to do lots of things for lots of different people,” he said.

“... So my point is we continue to look at where we need to improve. I can’t ask for much more from these officers.

“These officers are on the front lines 24/7 in large numbers. We have had situations where we were present and people have committed crimes in our presence. It speaks again to the disrespect for themselves, for others and disrespect for the law.”

Greenslade said police hope to put the suspects before the court by the end of the week.